Our People
Our people are central to who we are and what we do.
Our people are our:
- Employees
- Board of Governance
- Volunteers
Silky Oaks is known for recruiting highly capable, agile and compassionate workers who stay with the organisation for many years. This gives our stakeholders confidence that Silky Oaks is responsive, trustworthy and reliable. By supporting and empowering our people to do their best work together for others, we continue to grow a vibrant, effective organisation.
Meet our Executive Team
Silky Oaks Children’s Haven’s CEO, Russell Hamlet, heads a high-performing team of leaders and professionals across our programs. Russell and the ‘Core’ Team have been growing Silky Oaks’ voice as leaders in the sector, as advocates for people experiencing disadvantage and as innovators in a rapidly changing operating environment. Silky Oaks and its people have much to offer the sector at local, state and national levels and will continue to grow this leadership focus.
Russell Hamlet
Chief Executive Officer
Meet our CEO &
Executive ‘Core’ Team
Silky Oaks Children’s Haven’s CEO, Aaron Thirkettle, leads a high-performing team of leaders and professionals across our programs. Aaron and the ‘Core’ Team have been growing Silky Oak’s voice as leaders in the sector, as advocates for people experiencing disadvantage and as innovators in a rapidly changing operating environment. Silky Oaks and its people have much to offer the sector at local, state and national levels and will continue to grow this leadership focus.
Aaron Thirkettle
Chief Executive Officer
“I am humbled and grateful for the unwavering support of everyone who is involved in the outworking of our vision, mission and core values at Silky Oaks to provide hope for a brighter tomorrow.“
Aaron Thirkettle
Diana Gallego
Residential Programs Manager
Lauren Senituli
Embrace & Programs Services Manager
Maria Brown
Finance Manager
Russell Hamlet
Operations Manager
Terri Bradley
Community Programs Manager
Tracey Longley
Director of Early Years
Diana Gallego
Residential Programs Manager
Lauren Senituli
Embrace & Programs Services Manager
Maria Brown
Finance Manager
Terri Bradley
Community Programs Manager
Kylie Streets
Childcare Centre Director
Meet our
Management Team
Kaelyn Tsaples
Therapeutic Support Worker, Team Leader Inspire Outreach
Sarah Dolan
Opportunity Shop Coordinator
Christine Stewart
Residential Operations Manager
Meet our
Board Members
The Board of Governance meets regularly, together with the CEO, to create vision, develop strategy, consider proposals and recommendations and ratify these as appropriate. Collectively, our Board of Governance have over one hundred years’ service, affiliation and membership with Silky Oaks Children’s Haven.
Jonathan Darnell
Chairman
Jonathan Dass
Deputy Chairman
Ron Lawrence
Treasurer
Janice Johnson
Secretary
“Silky Oaks is intentional about every decision made, from the small to the large. As a Board, we are thankful for all of our workers and volunteers and the impact they have on the lives
that they touch.“
Janice Johnson
“As we celebrate our 80th year of operation, our desire is to ensure the trajectory of Silky Oaks is one that provides hope for a brighter tomorrow to the people and communities in whom we serve.”
Allan Grant
Allan Grant
Director
Leda Barnett
Director
Thiago Oliveira
Director
Daniel Raffell
Director
“Through our workers’ ‘love in action,’ clients experience, perhaps for some for the first time, what healthy relationships are. They are treated with dignity, respect and are able to trust again, which provides the building blocks for being able to move forward and find new hope.“
Daniel Raffell
Our Volunteers
Our volunteers are an integral part of the Silky Oaks team and we are fortunate enough to have over 60 volunteers involved with us. Silky Oaks is committed to providing opportunities to serve the local community through a variety of areas including:
- Opp Shop
- Childcare Centre
- Maintenance
Please note that volunteers may be required to obtain a Blue Card.
For general expressions of interest, please contact Silky Oaks on (07) 3906 8888 or click here for more information.
